Pennsylvania, Kansas turnpikes increase tolls

I-70, part of the Kansas Turnpike near Lawrence, Kan., part of the Kansas River Bridges Replacement and Plaza Improvement project.

On Sunday, drivers begin paying a toll increase on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and in three weeks, Kansas Turnpike users also will see a toll hike.

Pennsylvania Turnpike users now are being charged 10 percent more if paying cash and 2 percent more if using E-ZPass.

On Feb. 1, Kansas Turnpike drivers using cash and in the electronic tolling program will also face hikes. Commercial vehicles with five or more axles will face an average hike of 5 percent. Cash rates for two to four axle vehicles will jump 10 percent and 5 percent if a electronic toll customer.

The Pennsylvania toll increase helps satisfy the Turnpike’s obligation in addressing a transportation-funding shortfall and fund the Turnpike’s capital plan, focused largely on reconstruction and widening

The Kansas Turnpike toll hike is to support future capital needs, especially ongoing deck replacements on some of the authority’s 348 bridges.